Explanatory notes for Act 2, Scene 4 From The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ed. Israel Gollancz. New York: University Society.

20. My jerkin is a doublet: — “The jerkin, or jacket,” observes Knight, “was generally worn over the doublet; but occasionally the doublet was worn alone, and, in many instances, is confounded with the jerkin. Either had sleeves or not, as the wearer fancied; for by the inventories and wardrobe accounts of the time, we find that the sleeves were frequently separate articles of dress, and attached to the doublet, jerkin, coat, or even woman’s gown, by laces or ribbands, at the pleasure of the wearer. A ‘doblet jaquet’ and hose of blue velvet, cut upon cloth of gold, embroidered, and a ‘doblet hose and jaquet’ of purple velvet, embroidered, and cut upon cloth of gold, and lined with black satin, are entries in an inventory of the wardrobe of Henry VIII. In 1535, a jerkin of purple velvet, with purple satin sleeves, embroidered all over with Venice gold, was presented to the king by Sir Richard Cromwell; and another jerkin of crimson velvet, with wide sleeves of the same coloured satin, is mentioned in the same inventory.”

68. He is complete in feature: — Feature, originally meaning form, making, was applied by Shakespeare and his contemporaries to the whole person. Thus in Heywood’s Helen to Paris, 1609: —

135. There is no woe to, etc. :— That is, no misery in comparison with that inflicted by love; a form of speech formerly not unusual. Thus an old ballad: “There is no comfort in the world to women that are kind.”

210. ‘Tis but her picture:— Dr. Johnson criticized the Poet for making Proteus say he has but seen the picture of Silvia, when he has just been talking with the lady herself. But the blunder was the critic’s, not Shakespeare’s. Proteus wants to get deeper in love with Silvia, and so resorts to the argument that the little he has seen of her is as though he had but seen her picture. The figure is not more apt for his purpose than beautiful in itself.

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How to cite the explanatory notes: Shakespeare, William. The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ed. Israel Gollancz. New York: University Society, 1901.